Animals read mood and body language with great sensitivity. Forcible restraint, excessive restraint,
and even the slightest abrupt movements or changes in tone of voice can make dogs and cats feel
threatened, anxious, or angered. Over-restraint, disregard for the patient's body language and/or lack
of patience can induce the exact problems we are seeking to avoid: stress, bites, scratches, and vocal
or "fractious" animals. A veterinarian must have regard for the patient's emotions and act
intuitively to relax, comfort and reassure, before the medicine even begins!

Respect for Patient Interests

I believe treatment and preventative medical decisions should be made with the patient's best
interest in mind. It seems obvious, and yet, conventions, convenience, business, and monetary
factors not uncommonly interfere with the patient's best interest. I do not perform cosmetic
declawing, ear cropping, tail docking, or excessive vaccination. I reserve euthanasia for
times when an animal is suffering, or has a medically untreatable problem that has severely
impaired quality of life. As with all other procedures, at-home euthanasia must be performed gently
and in an environment where the animal and his/her person feel most comfortable and at peace.

Adequate Time

Your animal's appointment will last as long as it takes me to examine him/her, diagnose a problem,
explain options and answer your questions. I will not have my hand on the door, rushing off to
another appointment before you are ready for me to do so. I will be with you until we feel the job
is done.

Honesty

I am here for the animals. I am not here to take as much money from you as possible, and will not
pressure you to perform multiple diagnostic tests all at once. If diagnostic tests are needed, I will
perform the most relevant one first, keeping your expenses as reasonable as possible while still
fulfilling your animal's needs.

Client Education and Involvement

I will not perform a procedure or give any medication unless you understand why I am
doing it, how much it costs, what possible side effects may occur, and what other options
may exist. I will not take your animal away from you to perform procedures - you will always
be able to see what I am doing (unless you are squeamish - then I will respect and accommodate
that)!

Proactive, Not Reactive Medicine

Just as with humans, dogs and cats tend to incur more problems in their middle-aged to older years of
life. However, the precipitating causes (poor diet, lack of exercise, overmedicating, genetics)
tend to be present much earlier. My goal is to prevent problems or uncover them as they
start, and not wait until they've made your animal sick or caused a cascade of health
problems. I cannot stress enough that preventative measures and screens, even in the long run, are
much less expensive, less frustrating and healthier for your pet.

The Big Picture

Every veterinarian in this country takes an oath to relieve and prevent animal suffering. That said,
there is no disease in veterinary medicine that results in more cat/dog suffering and claims
more lives than what I term the "societal disease": dog and cat overpopulation. I strongly
believe that veterinarians have a professional obligation to educate the public on this and other animal
advocacy issues. Approximately four million animals are put down needlessly every year in animal
shelters and animal control facilities across the country. When I make recommendations, such as
spaying/neutering your pet and not breeding your pet, I hope that you will look outward and join
me in the nationwide effort to protect adoptable, healthy animals from being needlessly
destroyed. Society doesn't need more cats and dogs - let's tend to the ones that are already here!